The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-06-26
assure that ono would fly from a oharnol

pleasure that ono would NJ from cnerne'
house."
or Cen. jackson, Clays great enemy. whose
second term OF offloe now camo to n close,
although his influence long survived his rc-
tirement. Mr.. Schurz essays to speak In tenn
perate and thoroughly impartial way, though
wo think he makes It pretty clear that, had he
been contemporary. he would, on many pub
lilo questions. have followed the Wing leader.
Mr. Sohurz does ample justice TO Jackeons In
corruptible integrity and aggressive patriot
ism, and admits that. as President, no rem
dered tho country very valuable services By
enforcing respect for the American nag abroad.
and exactipg the redress of American grtev-
ances, and by asserting at homo the national
authority against attempts ct nullifcation
and threats OF secession. Nor does his biog-
rapber "and fault with jackson for having been
opposed to great central bank. as tho fiscal
agent OF the Government, or for having
vetoed Clny's Land bill, with its distri-
button scheme, or for trying to keep aues-
tionable bank paper out OF the pub
lie treasury" But Mr.. Sohurz considers 1t for
tunate for the country that there had never
been before. and has never been since. so
powerful and autocratio will at the head OF
tho Government, and 80 phenomenal popu-
larity to support It," He concurs with his op-
ponents In accusing Jackson Of pursuing some
Of his objects with reoklessness most hurt
full to tho public welfare. and In utter disre-
gard OF those principles which are the soul OF
constitutional republicanism" Jackson sin
cerely believed that, as President, no was
authorized to do whatever the Constitution
did not expressly forbid" instead Of supposing
his authority ciroumscribed within express
concessions. He hold himself to be the sole
direct representative Of the people, and In
that character he found source OF author
ity for doing almost anything in tho peo-
pies name" Accordingly, "he treated the
legislative power with . contempt al
most revolutionary" It is. therefore. Mr..
schurx's conviction that. although nothing
could have been further from Jackson's mind
than the desire to overthrow republican gov
eminent and to put personal dospotism In
its place; yet, II President Of tho United
States ever should conceive such Q scheme, he
would probably resort to the same tactics
which Jackson employed. These are tho true
tactics Of a Napoleon. In part employed by tho
FIRST and followed to tho letter by the second.
usurper Of that name"
We have soon that Clay had no strong desire
to be Q candidate for the Presidency against
Van Buren, in 1886. having, as the event proved.
good reason to doubt tho value Of Wing nom
ination at that juncture. But before the next
four years had passed the political situation had
boon profoundly changed Tho imitation caused
BY Jackson's transfer Of tho national deposits
from the Bank Of the United States to multi:
tuds Of weak State banks had boon followed
by the tremendous collapse OF 1887. and the
universal distress was laid at tho door OF jack
sons heir, Van Buren,. Clay was probably
right In believing that any Whig could be elect
cd in 1910, and he would unquestionably have
been tho choice Of his party but for tho pro-
slavery speech which he delivered In the Sem
ate in the previous year. This speech. for
which petition against tho abolition OF slav-
cry In the District OF Columbia furnished
tho prstext. had been very carefully pre-
pared with, It Is believed. tho purpose OF
improving Clay's availability. But 1t had
the opposite effect. He would in any event
have been supported by almost all the
Southern Wings, but his strength was now
seriously lessened In the close Whig States OF
the North. About tho purport Of this speech
there was no doubt In any section OF the Union.
What tho extreme pro-slavery men thought OF
It was indicated by the fact that Calhoun. who,
not long before. had said. The difference be-
tween mo and tho Senator from Kentucky 10 as
wide as the poles" hnstened to treat Clay's
speech on the District Of Columbia petition as
a complete surrender. He himself. he said, had
given the fatal blow to abolition. and the po-
sition now assumed by the Senator from Ken
lucky has given the finishing stroke"
There were also other grounds on which
some candidate without o public record and
without memorable enemies was more likely
than statesman. who for thirty-lve years had
been In public life, to unite tho heterogeneous
elements Of the opposition to Van Buren. After
enumerating these elements, Mr.. Schurz points
out that the old National Republicans. organ
lied when John Quincy Adams was President.
and forming the bulk Of the Wing party. were.
among themselves in tolerable accord about
tho construction Of constitutional powers, the
tariff. internal improvements, and. in less
degree, about the National Bank question. But
among the auxiliary forces, the wings Of the
party. there were many strict construction
lists, anti-bank mon, anti-tariH men. anti
internal improvement men. and these
forces had to be consulted" II success
in the national election was to be
made sure. CLAY himself tried to conciliate
most Of these elements by retreating in some
measure from his earlier positions with rela-
ton to the bank question, the tariff. and inter-
nal improvements. He was particularly anx-
ious to strengthen tho party by attaching
those who had ceased to be administration
Democrats without at onoe becoming Wings"
II was in pursuance Of this purpose that 1t was
finally determined to give tho Wing nomina-
ton to Tyler. Of whom Clay had made an enc
my by favoring. with the Same end In Wow. but
at an earlier date. the reelection Of his COM
petitor Rives to the Senate from Virginia.
What turned the scale against Clay was the
opposition. not only Of the anti-slavery men,
irritated by his speech against tho Abolition
lists. but of the anti Masons, and particularly
of Thurlow Weed by whom some exceedingly
Effective wiro pulling was done both in tho
State Of New York and afterward In the Wing
National Convention at Harrisburg. Even
then the name Of Clay would have carried the
Convention had not Websters friends from
New England and New York, remembering
that Clay, four years before, had preferred
Harrison to Webster. cast what votes they had
for Scott first and afterward for Harrison.
The indignation Of Clay's friends at his
defeat was strikngly analogous to that
exhibited by Grants supporters in 1880.
At Harrisburg. as ut Chicago. 1t was felt
that tho nomination for the Vice. Presidency
must be given to q friend OF tho defeat
ed candidate. It WAS offered to four of Claws